Building a boss battle

Boss battles are one of the most enjoyable experiences in games. Building a good boss battle is always a challenge, but the theory behind it is quite simple. The first rule to follow is that a boss should consist of three unique stages of increasing difficulty. The second rule is that the boss should emphasize the latest skills that the user has acquired. The third and final rule is that the player should always have something to do.

Our boss battle will not be against another character, but against a fortress. The first stage will consist of three retractable Cannons that will shoot Cannonballs across the room. All three Cannons must be destroyed to move onto the second stage. Stage two will have a powerful LaserCannon that will move up and down and shoot a room wide Laser Beam that the player will need to avoid. The final stage will be to destroy the Boss Core that is protected by two Shields. The Shields will only be open for a short period of time. During the entire...